Vestron Video (Lionsgate) Collector's Series Discussion Thread

[TripleHBK]

Vestron Video Collector's Series Blu-Ray Releases

1. Chopping Mall - September 27, 2016
2. Blood Diner - September 27, 2016
3. Waxwork / Waxwork II: Lost in Time - October 18, 2016
4. Return of the Living Dead 3 - November 22, 2016
5. C.H.U.D. II: Bud the CHUD - November 22, 2016
6. Lair of the White Worm - January 31, 2017
7. Parents - January 31, 2017
8. The Gate - February 28, 2017
9. Wishmaster Collection - March 28, 2017 - Wishmaster / Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies / Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell / Wishmaster: The Prophecy Fulfilled
10. The Unholy - June 27, 2017
11. Warlock Collection - July 25, 2017 - Warlock / Warlock: Armageddon / Warlock III: The End of Innocence
12. Slaughter High - October 31, 2017
13. Gothic - January 30, 2018
14. Class of 1999 - January 30, 2018
15. Beyond Re-Animator - July 24, 2018
16. Dagon - July 24, 2018
17. Maximum Overdrive - October 23, 2018
18. Little Monsters - September 15, 2020
19. Shivers - September 15, 2020
20. The Wraith - July 20, 2021
21. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat - August 17, 2021
22. Dementia 13: The Directors Cut - September 21, 2021
23. Steel Dawn - October 16, 2021
24. Candyman III: Day of the Dead - January 18, 2022
25. Dream A Little Dream - March 15, 2022
26. Extreme Prejudice - May 17, 2022
27. Earth Girls Are Easy - November 8, 2022
28. Silent Night Deadly Night Collection - December 13, 2022 - Silent Night Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! / Silent Night Deadly Night 4: Initiation / Silent Night Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
29. The Dentist Collection - January 24, 2023 - The Dentist / The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself

Vestron Video 1982 Logo (Re-Created) - YouTube

Vestron Video logo 1986 (RE-CREATED) - YouTube

List of Speculated future titles based on what is available and what Lionsgate owns (Updated as new info emerges) as compiled by forum user Lacrimosa :

[Show spoiler]Titles owned by Lionsgate that have an existing HD master:
Fear (1990) - original Vestron Pictures film
Hider in the House (1989) - original Vestron Pictures film
China Girl (1987) - original Vestron Pictures film
The Rainbow (1989) - original Vestron Pictures film
Cube (1997)
Cube 2: Hypercube (2002)
Cube Zero (2004)
Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (1991)
Blair Witch 2: Book of shadows (2000)
May (2002)
Strangeland (1998)
Paperhouse (1990)
The Punisher (1989)
Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004)
Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004)
The Death Machine (1994)
Brotherhood of Justice (1986)
Carnival of Souls (1998)
Santa’s Slay (2005)
Faust: Love of the Damned (2000)
The Descent Part 2 (2009)
Toolbox Murders (2005)
Dark Ride (2006)
Sometimes They Come Back… Again (1996)
A Gnome Named Gnorm (1997)
Sometimes They Come Back... for More (1998)
Pi (1998)
Novocaine (2001)
Dead End (2003)
Riding the Bullet (2004)
The Burrowers (2008)
Man-Thing (2005)
Salome's Last Dance (1988)
My Best Friend is a Vampire (1988)


Titles owned by Lionsgate that DO NOT have an existing HD master (that we know of):
Catchfire (1990) - original Vestron Pictures film
Repossessed (1990)
Nightforce (1987)
Servants of Twilight (1991)
Evolver (1995)
The Deathmaster (1972)
Beneath Still Waters (2005)
Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996)


Titles that may be owned by Lionsgate that have an existing HD master:
Near Dark (1987) - Lionsgate had distribution rights when this was a StudioCanal title, but now rumor is that rights are back with the producer. Michael Felsher said this one is a mess and is held up for a number of reasons, but doesn’t expect it to be forever.
Fright Night Part 2 (1988)
Trick or Treat (1986) - NSM in Germany released a region free blu-ray but the transfer was from a dated print and the English audio was awful; this title is thought to be owned by Lionsgate but there are music rights issues with DEG
976-Evil II (1992) - Was included in the 8-pack DVD Lionsgate released in 2012 but it has been rumored that Lionsgate lost ownership
Death Weekend (1976, aka The House by the Lake)


Other possibilities / unknown:
Cheerleader Camp (1988) - Anchor Bay's license expired before Lionsgate's acquisition of Starz
Future-Kill (1985) - Subversive released the DVD in 2006 and didn’t license from Lionsgate
Radioactive Dreams (1985) - Controlled by MGM?
Neon City (1991) - Controlled by MGM?
Shadow of the Vampire (2000) - Has a German release but badly needs a remaster; domestic rights might be with Universal.
Cat Chaser (1989) - an original Vestron Pictures film but now listed under Davis-Panzer Productions
Watchers (1988)
Funland (1987)
Son of Darkness: To Die For II (1991)
A Demon in my View (1991)
Demonwarp (1988)
Blown Away (1993)
Light of Day (1987)
Bruiser (2000)
Blood Beach (1981)


Titles NOT owned by Lionsgate that have been speculated (cross these off your lists):
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) - Paramount owns Miramax titles as of April 2020
Children of the Corn II (1992) - Paramount owns Miramax titles as of April 2020
Children of the Corn III (1995) - Paramount owns Miramax titles as of April 2020
The Convent (2000) - Synapse announced a release - controlled by Multicom?
Land of the Minotaur (1976) - Controlled by Crown International Pictures
Eyes of Fire (1983) - Confirmed by Amy Utley at Lionsgate in an email on 7/23/20
Sometimes They Come Back (1991) - Controlled by MGM
Necronomicon (1994) - Owned by someone in France who has worldwide rights
Rumpelstiltskin (1996) - Confirmed by Michael Felsher

[DetroitSportsFan]

I was hoping you'd start this thread. I send you a PM, and I come back and here it is. You work fast.

Anyway, horror collectors - please buy this line. Give Lionsgate a reason to continue it and eventually offer every horror film they have.

Even if these first two titles aren't at the top of your "most wanted" list, please consider buying them to ensure Lionsgate continues the line to release something that IS on your list.

[Mister B Gone]

Slaughter High and Waxwork (unrated) next please

Ghoulies Go to College I can only dream...

[NoirFan]

With the Vestron logo and everything. Perfect.

[MifuneFan]

Whoa these are amazing

[BarnDoor]

Would be useful if we could put together a list of 'genre' titles with Lionsgate. I think The Wraith, Alligator 1+2, The Gate, CHUD 2, Warlock, and Near Dark are, but there are surely many others.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

With the Vestron logo and everything. Perfect.

Yeah, now every release should play this at the beginning....

Vestron Video logo - YouTube

[Michael24]

I've never heard of Blood Diner but these are beautiful! Can't wait to see what else they have lined up. Maybe The Unholy? Would be great to finally see it after all these years since I grew up seeing the trailer attached to The Monster Squad on VHS.

Originally Posted by Mister B Gone

Slaughter High and Waxwork (unrated) next please

Slaughter High isn't very good but was one of the first real slashers I ever saw when I was just getting into horror in the mid-90s, so I have a soft spot for it. I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Caroline Munro in HD!

[donald.brown]

Seeing the name "Vestron Video" brings back many fond memories!

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Would be useful if we could put together a list of 'genre' titles with Lionsgate. I think The Wraith, Alligator 1+2, The Gate, CHUD 2, Warlock, and Near Dark are, but there are surely many others.

Alligator II isn't with LG. It has either just expired from or is still with WB through New Line.

[themp3000]

Definitely plan to get these to show my support and do my part for more wonderful gems.

Also, love that they'll have spine numbers apparently.

[bsend]

Nice it looks like Lionsgate has finally decided to take their catalog titles seriously. The numbering system on the spine has me excited too. I was going to skip on Chopping Mall since I have the DVD, but this looks like it will be a good upgrade.

[dissention]

Can't wait for these and further titles! They really went all out.

Paperhouse was a Vestron title, so fingers crossed. The French disc isn't bad, but the transfer could be improved and the extras more thorough.

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by Mister B Gone

Slaughter High and Waxwork (unrated) next please

Definitely agree! (And WAXWORK II: LOST IN TIME as well!)

[Wernski]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Would be useful if we could put together a list of 'genre' titles with Lionsgate. I think The Wraith, Alligator 1+2, The Gate, CHUD 2, Warlock, and Near Dark are, but there are surely many others.

The only potential bummer about this being a "Vestrom" line is if it rules out Lionsgate horror that didn't come out through Vestron, like Warlock or Nightwish. But a few compelling Vestron titles I can think of are:

Rawhead Rex
The Kindred
Sundown: Vampire In Retreat
Eyes of Fire
Lair Of the White Worm
Gothic
Radioactive Dreams
Rocktober Blood
Hard Rock Zombies

[mca213]

Lionsgate bringing their motherfn' A GAME!!!!!

About time...

[bsend]

Originally Posted by Wernski

The only potential bummer about this being a "Vestrom" line is if it rules out Lionsgate horror that didn't come out through Vestron, like Warlock or Nightwish. But a few compelling Vestron titles I can think of are:
Rocktober Blood

This got a really terrible Blu ray release already apparently. A VHS port. I think it might be off limits from the film's owner. I would love to see it get a proper release.

[NoirFan]

Here is a great collection of Vestron VHS covers (and possible BD releases).

[movieben1138]

Originally Posted by Wernski

The only potential bummer about this being a "Vestrom" line is if it rules out Lionsgate horror that didn't come out through Vestron, like Warlock or Nightwish. But a few compelling Vestron titles I can think of are:

Rawhead Rex
The Kindred
Sundown: Vampire In Retreat
Eyes of Fire
Lair Of the White Worm
Gothic
Radioactive Dreams
Rocktober Blood
Hard Rock Zombies

I wouldn't mind upgrading my DVDs of GOTHIC and LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM. Even for DVD, they look pretty shoddy.

[willo007]

Now I wantz the following:

1986 The Wraith
1986 Ken Russell's Gothic
1988 Anthony Hickox's Waxwork
1988 Camilo Vila's The Unholy
1988 Ken Russell's The Lair of the White Worm
1989 Mark Lester's Class Of 1999
1989 Little Monsters
1989 Katherine Bigelow's Blue Steel
1989 Bob Balaban's Parents
1989 Anthony Hickox's Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
1989 Steve Miner's Warlock
1991 Anthony Hickox's Waxwork II: :Lost In Time
1993 Anthony Hickox's Warlock: The Armageddon

I know some of the titles I mentioned were not part of the Vestron distributed titles, but they are housed @ Lionsgate and deserve the BD treatment.